Hill 6 blood) obstructs oxygen and glucose from being transported to the muscles, thus increasing the body’s resistance to insulin. The book also shows statistics that adult onset diabetes is mostsensitive to weight gain. “A gradient in risk of more than 50-fold is seen from the leanest to theheaviest men and women, and even modest gains in weight from age 18 to midlife are associatedwith an increase in risk several times greater than that of a person who maintained a stableweight” (Eating Disorders and Obesity). Increased BMI (body mass index) of 23 to 25 hadincreased abnormalities in blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and serum lipids. People who areoverweight may try to present the benefit of less hip fractures and broken bones than people whoare lean (because of more padding), but heart disease and diabetes are far more important anddangerous health risks. There are no benefits to being overweight (Eating Disorders andObesity).Preventing obesity at an early age is very beneficial to people’s health and self-esteem.Parents can prevent their children from becoming obese later in life more than they know. Theyneed to be role models for their children, and set examples of a good lifestyle. Regulating howmuch the child eats is important, especially what they’re eating. Sugar should be cut down, aswell as high-calorie snacks. Limiting time in front of the TV and computer could increase physical activity as well (Weight Management). The article “Obesity” explains that obese adultswhose parents never taught them good eating and health habits have to take care of themselvesand change their lifestyles. Treating obesity is not just about quick weight loss, it is about settingup a lifelong pattern of good choices. “Yo-Yo” dieting is very dangerous and can increase a person’s risk for fatal diseases. Behavior-focused treatment should concentrate on learning andunderstanding the fat content and overall nutritional value of most foods. Overweight individualsmay need to keep a food diary to record their calories and food choices, and change habits in

Hill 7grocery shopping, times of meals, and actual rate of eating. Some psychological factors, such ashow a person views food, could play a part. Some people overeat when they are under extremestress, for example, and see food as a comfort. Others may eat to reward themselves for success.Many views of food are contributing to why people gain weight so quickly, and if people canidentify the psychological reasons behind why they eat so much, they could prevent a lot of problems. The article continues by describing how physical activity is another life habit that isvital to make. The amount of time someone spends exercising and being active can contributemuch to his or her overall health. As many as 85% of dieters who do not exercise on a regular basis regain their lost weight within two years. In five years, the figure rises to 90%. Exerciseincreases the metabolic rate by creating muscle, which burns more calories than fat. Whenregular exercise is combined with regular, healthful meals, calories continue to burn at anaccelerated rate for several hours. When individuals work hard and build endurance, it helpsthem not feel discouraged. New activities and varied routines can help them not lose interest instaying active. Individuals trying to make these life changes would be wise to be encouraged andsupervised by a medical professional. Weight loss programs, such as “Weight Watchers” cansometimes be effective, as they emphasize realistic goals, sensible eating, gradual progress andexercise. However, some can be dangerous because they promise extreme weight loss and may put people on dangerous diet plans or pills. Most doctors would not approve of those, but wouldrecommend a low calorie diet (about 1200 to 1500 calories a day), or a liquid protein diet for upto three months. Along with the...

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...In the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last 3decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. A study done by theCenters of Disease Control showed that since 1980, one third of our adult population has becomeoverweight. America is the richest but also the fattest nation in the world, and our obese backsides are the butt of jokes in every other country (Klein 28). The 1980s were a time whenAmericans suddenly started going crazy over dieting, jumping onto the treadmills, and buying prepackaged non-fat foods. However, while all of that was going on, the number of obeseAmericans began to increase. According to a report in the Journal of the American MedicalAssociation, 58 million people in our country weigh over 20 percent of their body’s ideal weight.The article “Fat Times” states, “If this were about tuberculosis, it would be called an epidemic”(Elmer-Dewit 58). The eating habits of society have steadily become more harmful and havestarted to produce gluttonous children, over-indulgent adults, and a food industry set too muchon satisfying our appetites.Obesity can begin at a very young age. Many children in our society are overweight,setting themselves up for serious health problems later in life. Type 2 diabetes, high bloodcholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart problems are just some of the risks. Children who areoverweight also tend to feel less secure, less happy, and be stressed more than normal...

...Obesity Epidemic
The rate of obesity has grown triple fold since in the last two decades (Cluss 1). High rates of obesity occur in developed countries that have a high food supply as well as many options. The United States is arguably the wealthiest country in the world, so it makes since that our obesity rates would be high. Developing countries that are struggling to meet the caloric needs of its people do not have problems withobesity because the food supply is extremely low and options are nearly unheard of. Though the average American is aware of this problem, little has been done to address the problem as a whole. I share a connection with this topic because several members of my family have been labeled overweight or obese based on BMI calculations. BMI stands for Body Mass Index which is calculated by taking a person’s height and weight and comparing it to the average for each height and weight class. Having said that, the direct side effects from being overweight or obese are what cause problems, stir up social exclusion, and make it difficult to compete with non obese for jobs. The health side effects linked to obesity have sparked some slight concern in the healthcare industry.
By exploring three concepts that relate directly to the topic of obesity in America, I can get a better understanding of how the problem can be addressed in the near future. The...

...There is a huge and growing concern regarding obesity amongst children in today’s society. It is a widely discussed topic in the United States. Obesity is considered to be one of the most dangerous health issues facing our children. Today childhood obesity is in issue because of the staggering proportions that this disease has reached in the past few years. Certain genetic factors paired with changing lifestyles and culture has produced kids (and adults) who generally not as healthy as people were a few decades ago. The target audiences of my paper are the parents of children between the ages of two years old through nineteen years of age.
According, to the textbook obesity is defined based on measurement of children’s heights and weights growth chart (Sorte, 2011 Pg.74). The number of children who are obese has been increasing at a rapid speed (Sorte, 2011 Pg.15). The number of overweight rate among preschool children has increased from 5% in 1980 to 12.4% in 2006, reaching 31.9% in 2008 among children ages 2 to 9 years (Sorte, 2011 Pg.15). The center for Disease control website states that childhood obesity has both immediate and long term effects on health and well-being. However, understanding that being overweight refers to a person with a body mass that is high compared to others his same height and technically has nothing to do with an individual’s amount of body fat. Obesity is one...

...CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
Obesity among students has become a national phenomenon. It becomes a concern among the public and school personnel - including teachers, school psychologists, and counselors, as to the effects of student obesity. With the numbers of student obesity on the rise, it is important to see how school personnel, teachers, as well as other students perceive this situation. Overweight and obese students have a higher risk of continuing to become overweight adolescents and they are more likely to experience serious long term morbidity, including coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and some cancers. Current physical activity levels among Malaysian adolescents remain low, together with unhealthy dietary practices and a passive lifestyle, these lead to obesity and being overweight. Lack of or minimal physical activities at home and at work, have resulted in increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease, which it becomes one of the important causes of premature death in the Southeast Asia region. Such sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits of adolescents may well lead to an increase in the prevalence of obesity today (Low W J, 2006).
1.1 Background of study
Obesity is the term used for people who are extremely overweight. Obese people have excessive weight where it will increase their risk of...

...
OBESITY.
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Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals. There are different types of public health related problems, Public health surveillance has led to the identification and prioritization of many public health issues facing the world today, including HIV/AIDS, diabetes, obesity, waterborne diseases, zoonotic diseases, and antibiotic resistance leading to the reemergence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. The focus of public health intervention is to improve health and quality of life through the prevention and treatment of disease and other physical and mental health conditions, through researching of cases and the promotion of healthy behaviors. Promotion of hand washing, breastfeeding and delivery of vaccinations. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that overweight and obesity may soon replace more traditional public health concerns such as under nutrition and infectious diseases as the most significant cause of poor health. Obesity is a public health and policy problem because of its prevalence, costs, and health effects.
Obesity...

...Angelica Pisano
Dr. Boyle
Sociology 105
April 8, 2013
Obesity in America
Obesity is a common disease in the United States that has many causes and consequences. Genetics, the environment and the media are all common causes of obesity leading to health problems as well as economic issues. Another variable that contributes to obesity, less obvious than diet and heredity, is social networking (Schaefer 106). Today, over two-thirds of Americans fall into the categories of being overweight or obese. This number has more then doubled over the past three decades. In reality, America’s obesity-inducing environment, the sustained changes in behavior required to lose the weight and keep it off are simply too difficult and are becoming more difficult all the time (Zuckerman).
Lets first understand the difference between overweight and obesity. Being overweight means weighing too much. Obesity means having too much body fat. Your body mass index (BMI) is calculated by a person’s height and weight. In most cases, the higher the BMI the higher you are at risk of a disease. Both of these terms mean a person’s weight is higher then is should be, putting them at a greater risk with health issues. These health risks are as following: coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems,...

...Nutrition Examination Survey, one-third of the United States diet consists of junk or fast food (Allison). Obesity is the “abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually twenty percent or more over an individual's ideal body weight” (Greenblatt). Obesity is becoming an overwhelming epidemic in America. It is more prevalent in African Americans, American-Indians, and children (Richards). In fact, nearly two out of three Americans are overweight or obese and the number of overweight children has tripled over the last twenty years (Greenblatt). Due to obesity, there are many deaths or life threatening effects in America. According to Greenblatt, individuals who are obese have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death from all causes, compared to those with a healthy weight. Moreover, they discovered that about one of every eight deaths in America is caused by an illness started by obesity (Allison). A stronger focus on solutions is vital in controlling the obesity epidemic. Rather than taking the easy way out by buying cheap fast food, people need to be taught how to save their money and recognize the negative effects of vast fast food intake.
Allison, Fontaine, and Manson used data from numerous studies to estimate the number of deaths attributable to obesity in the United States on an annual basis. Their studies reveal that in 1991, the “average deaths due to...

...Fighting Against Obesity
Societies worldwide are discovering new ways to combat the threat of obesity. Though they are many methods in which this can be done, most experts would agree that a healthy diet and adequate exercise is not only effective but one of the safest methods when treating obesity. But before we assess the methods in which to fight obesity, a definition of obesity must be given. It is also imperative to accurately define a healthy diet as well as a manageable exercise routine for an obese person.
Obesity, as defined by The Merck Manual of Medical Information, is the accumulation of excessive body fat and though being overweight can be seen as the same thing, there is a distinction which exists between the two. This distinction can be made by utilizing a number known as the body mass index, which is calculated by dividing a person’s weight by their height in meters squared. It is said a person whose body mass index number is thirty or more can be officially diagnosed as an obese person.
Like the many methods that exist to treat obesity, they are many causes as well. Generally, the consumption of more calories than the body needs can directly result in that person’s obesity. A person whose diet is high in fat instead of proteins and carbohydrates is more likely to retain more calories because of a chemical reaction which occurs when foods...